Clinical Research Directory

Screening and Multiple Intervention on Lung Epidemics

This prospective randomized pilot trial will evaluate a multiple intervention program of prevention in lifelong smokers aiming at reduction of chronic inflammation status through treatment with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), smoking cessation with cytisine, targeted modification of diet and physical activity, in addition to early diagnosis with annual ultra low-dose spiral computed tomography (LDCT).

Fermented Food-Supplemented Diet in Ulcerative Colitis

The purpose of this study is to see how a diet that supplements fermented foods effects inflammation and quality of life in patients with mild to moderate Ulcerative Colitis (UC). There is a paucity of research and an enormous need for better understanding of diet and intestinal inflammation. Fermented food have been shown to positively influence inflammatory cytokines and intestinal microbial diversity in healthy volunteers.

The Influence of a Fasting Mimicking Diet on Ulcerative Colitis

The purpose of this study is to see how a diet that mimics fasting effects inflammation in patients with mild to moderate Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The diet may allow users to receive the benefits of fasting while also being able to enjoy food (the ingredients of which are GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research on dietary interventions and UC are very limited. Fasting mimicking diets (FMD) have been studied with support of the National Institute of Health and published in leading journals. This research investigates whether markers of inflammation decrease and/or quality of life increases after three cycles of a five-day period of the fasting mimicking diet, and may provide rationale for its use to treat UC.

Soluble and Osmotic Fibre (SOLOS) Diet for Constipation

This research aims to study the dual effectiveness of incorporating soluble fibre and osmotic carbohydrates (SOLOS), with or without restricting fructans and GOS, and present novel findings in managing GI symptoms in patients with functional bowel disorders with constipation. These findings may also support researchers and clinicians in shaping new dietary approaches in the management of general constipation symptoms.

Targeting Lifestyle to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening

The goal of this study is to learn whether receiving personalized, digital lifestyle advice during colorectal cancer screening leeds to changes in lifestyle over a two-year follow-up period. Changes will be measured using a composite score including diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index and smoking habits. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do participants who receive short, personalized digital feedback on their lifestyle - either once or through repeated rounds -change their lifestyle during the two-year study period, compared to those who do not receive any feedback? * Does the inclusion of additional contact, such as telephone consultation with healthcare providers, result in further lifestyle changes? Researchers will compare three groups which receive digital feedback at different intensities and a control group which does not get any feedback to see if lifestyle changes differ between the groups. Participants in four different groups will fill in a digital diet and lifestyle questionnaire at the start of the study and 2-4 times after this during the following 2 years. * Participants in three of the groups will receive a short digital feedback report on their lifestyle related to health recommendations after each completion of the questionnaire. * One of these groups will also be offered to go through the feedback report together with a healthcare provider in a telephone call. * This group will also receive invitations to motivational webinars every half year during the 2-year study period. The topics in the webinars address cancer preventive lifestyle. A secondary goal of the study is to understand whether the invitation to fill in the diet and lifestyle questionnaire affects participation in colorectal cancer screening. Therefore, a fifth group of individuals invited to colorectal cancer screening but not to be invited to fill in the questionnaire will be included for extra comparison. Participation in colorectal cancer screening will be compared between this group and the four groups that are additionally invited to complete the questionnaire. Another secondary goal is to learn which groups in the society consent to the current study. Therefore, sociodemographic characteristics will be compared between the invited individuals who consent and those who do not consent to the study.

The Food Environment, Microbial Cysteine Metabolism, and Cancer Disparities

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if changing cysteine levels in the diet can influence how the body processes cysteine in Black and White individuals aged 45-75 with a history of non-cancerous polyps. The main questions it aims to answer are: * At the beginning of the study, do Black participants have higher levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and compounds made from cysteine in their blood when compared to White participants? * Does eating less cysteine lower the body's natural cysteine activity and lead to less gut bacteria that break down cysteine? * Does eating less cysteine lead to less inflammation in the gut and lower levels of markers of inflammation in the blood? Research will compare a high cysteine diet and a low cysteine diet, and each participant will eat both diets. Participants will be in the study for 11 weeks and 2 days. Over the course of the study, participants will: * Eat a high cysteine diet for 3 weeks, and a low cysteine diet for 3 weeks * Eat a moderate cysteine diet for 1 week before each study diet * Complete surveys * Provide blood, stool, and saliva samples * Maintain food logs

Lifestyle for the BRAin Health - Time Restricted Eating and Mindfulness

The study aims to evaluate the effects of a 9-month intervention combining yoga-based mindfulness techniques, cognitive training, and nutritional counseling on cognitive function, plasma markers of neurodegeneration (tau protein), physical fitness, and metabolism in older adults at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Mobile Regulation of Craving Training (mROC-T) to Improve Dietary Intake in Rural Adolescent Girls

The goal of this clinical trial is to test if a regulation of craving training intervention in the form of a mobile phone app can increase fruit and vegetable intake in adolescent girls ages 14-18 years of age. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What is the effect of a mobile app version of the regulation of craving training intervention on healthy eating index scores over one year? 2. What is the effect of a mobile app version of the regulation of craving training intervention on body mass index, waist circumference, and blood glucose over one year? Researchers will compare the active regulation of craving training arm to a control fun food fact arm to see if the regulation of craving training improves HEI scores, BMI, and blood glucose over a year. Participants will be asked to play the regulation of craving training mobile app twice a week for a year.

Personalized Responses to Dietary Composition Trial 3

The PREDICT 3 study will build on previous research in over 2,000 individuals to further refine machine learning models that predict individual responses to foods, with the aim of advancing precision nutrition science and individualized dietary advice. The study incorporates both standardized and controlled dietary intervention, for the purpose of testing postprandial responses to specific mixed meals, in addition to a free-living period with a dietary record for measuring responses to a large variety of meals consumed in a realistic context, where the role of external factors (e.g. exercise, sleep, time of day) on postprandial responses may be determined. For the first time this PREDICT study is built on top of a commercial product which will allow access to a much larger group of participants who are already collecting large amounts of data through digital and biochemical devices that can contribute to science.

Study of the Effect of Capsinoid Supplementation on Brown Adipose Tissue in Obese Adolescents

Among the new strategies being considered for the treatment of obesity and its metabolic complications, the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) from white adipose tissue looks promising. Interest in the study of BAT has increased over the last 5-10 years in response to the discovery of functional BAT in humans. The BAT is a tissue specialized in regulating energy expenditure by producing heat through the oxidation of fatty acids contained in the multiple lipid droplets of brown adipocytes. This adipose tissue does not play a storage role, but rather an anti-obesogenic one, thanks to its high metabolic and energetic activity. In addition to exposure to cold, which is the major physiological inducer of brown adipocytes, it seems that exercise and the intake of "adrenergic" foods can activate the TAB and potentially induce a change from white to brown tissue via the production of adrenalin and myokines. Acute and/or chronic effects of thermogenic food supplements have been reported on BAT activation and energy metabolism. The most conclusive of these involve the capsinoids found in sweet peppers and chillies. Weight loss also improves BAT activation. The BAT has already been identified in children. A decrease in its volume and activity from childhood to adolescence and during puberty has been reported. The main objective of this randomized controlled double-blind study is to investigate the effects of capsinoid dietary supplementation on BAT activity in obese adolescents. Our general working hypothesis is that capsinoid supplementation, combined with dietary management, leads to an increase in BAT activity.

Increasing Lean Protein Intake in Preschool-age Children and Assessing Effects on Cognition and Select Health Outcomes

The proposed project addresses the goal of exploring preschooler's ability to recognize changes in feelings of hunger/satiety based on consuming a snack and a meal (lunch/dinner) that are either based on the usual childcare center fare (control) or are based on lean meats (intervention), which will have a lower glycemic index.

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate to Allow Liberal Fruit and Vegetable Intake for Patients With CKD Stage 3b and 4

Rationale: Several studies have shown that higher urinary potassium excretion (as proxy for potassium intake) is associated with better kidney outcomes, lower blood pressure and improved survival. These associations are also observed in patients with (advanced) CKD. However, application in daily practice in patients with CKD, is impaired by the risk of hyperkalemia, due to metabolic acidosis and impaired renal potassium excretion in these patients. As a consequence, patients with CKD are advised to restrict their intake of fruit and vegetables, as these healthy food components are important sources of dietary potassium. This is particularly undesirable for patients with CKD in view of the very high risk of cardiovascular disease. Concomitant use of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) could allow a more liberal intake of fruit and vegetables for patients with CKD, as SZC effectively treats hyperkalemia and counteracts metabolic acidosis \[1\]. With this strategy, the beneficial effects of potassium in fruits and vegetables on (vascular) health could also become accessible to patients with CKD. Objective: To demonstrate that a potassium-rich diet, including the use of SZC as potential rescue treatment (in case of hyperkalemia), does not result in an unacceptable rise in plasma potassium (i.e. max rise of 0.5 mmol/L and no hyperkalemia). Study Design: Investigator initiated, single center, cross-over randomized clinical trial with non-inferiority design (14 weeks, 2 groups: regular diets vs. diet with potassium rich fruits and vegetables with sodium zirconium cyclosilicate if necessary) Study population: Outpatients ( age ≥ 18 years ) with chronic kidney disease stage IIIb/IV and use of inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system (RASi). Intervention: Addition of fruit- and vegetables that contain 40 mmol of potassium on top of regular diet. Addition of SZC after 1 week in case hyperkaliemia develops (serum potassium \> 5,5 mmol/L). Weekly measurement of plasma potassium and dose adjustment of SZC if needed

Drivers and Barriers for Adopting Healthy and Sustainable Food Swaps in Young

Food represents one of the greatest health and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Consuming less of the most environmentally damaging foods, such as meat, is considered an effective method to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of these N-of-1 FOOD SWAP intervention studies is to investigate whether and which physiological, psychological and environmental factors, at an individual level, modify the adoption and adherence of food swaps aiming to reduce the intake of red meat and replace this with fish or plant-based foods, in young adults. The series of N-of-1 studies will also assess whether an 8-week food swap intervention will improve general health markers such as blood pressure, plasma lipids and glucose, and blood/urinary metabotype. This approach will provide insight into physiological, behavioural and environmental factors that can help explain individual fluctuations in adherence and physiological outcomes common in nutrition studies. In the future, this should enable us to tailor how we deliver effective individualised interventions and better consider and control for factors affecting adherence and response to dietary interventions.

Low Energy Diet and Familial Partial Lipodystrophy

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and metabolic impact of a low energy diet (LED) in people with familial partial lipodystrophy and diabetes. Participants will be provided with a LED (total diet replacement) for 12 weeks, before the introduction of a stepped food transition. Metabolic effects will continue to be assessed for 1 year. In order to better understand why this intervention changes insulin sensitivity, we will also collect adipose and muscle tissue samples at baseline and 12 weeks into the intervention in participants willing to have these procedures performed. These samples will be used for histological, metabolite, gene expression and protein expression analyses.

Longitudinal Multi-Omic Profiles to Reveal Mechanisms of Obesity-Mediated Insulin Resistance

This 12-week controlled diet and weight intervention study seeks to define the molecular pathways that link excess body weight to the development of insulin resistance (IR). Blood, adipose and stool are sampled at three timepoints; baseline, peak weight (4 weeks) and post weight loss to monitor changes in cellular processes. Additionally, direct insulin sensitivity testing, and radiological measurement of visceral fat and intrahepatic fat content is measured at three timepoints to correlate clinical indices with cellular changes.

Impact of Regular Consumption of Eggs and Nutrients Fortified Eggs on Eczema Condition in Singapore Individuals

The study aims to assess the effects of daily consumption of nutrients-fortified eggs on eczema condition in Singapore individuals with eczema. The investigators hypothesize that egg consumption will improve eczema condition and nutrients fortified egg consumption will improve further improvements when compared to standard egg consumption in individuals with eczema